AMBLECOTE councillors will be applying for £6,000 of community funding to try and stop travellers blighting popular football pitches in the area.

Councillors Paul Bradley, Julie Baines and Simon Tyler will be asking council colleagues at the next Amblecote, Cradley and Wollescote, Lye and Stourbridge North Community Forum to support their bid to install measures to prevent illegal traveller camps being set up on the land opposite Sainsbury’s supermarket at Withymoor.

Cllr Bradley said: “We are asking for £6,000 which is £1,000 higher than normally accepted by councillors. All three Amblecote councillors are for the application.”

The money would pay for ground works to be carried out around the pitches to stop caravans being driven onto them and for a bolted gate to be installed to allow access for maintenance.

Cllr Bradley, who was bombarded with calls and emails from concerned residents when travellers set up camp on the pitches in September 2016, said: “I'm getting leaflets out to the immediate area and publicising it in local shops, as I think we will need public support to get it accepted on the night.”

A host of other organisations and groups will be hoping to get their hands on community forum cash and have submitted applications for consideration at the meeting, which will take place at Withymoor Primary School on Monday January 16 at 6.30pm.

Ehsas Carers has applied for £3,884.98 to make internal improvements to their meeting place and provide activities for members; the Friends of Wollescote Park have applied for £4,819.20 to buy and install four park benches; Access in Dudley has applied for £998.22 to buy promotional materials; the Friends of Homer Hill Park have applied for £709 to buy and install a community board; and St Peters Church has requested £2,500 for tree felling.